Iraqi conference walkout protests Najaf bombings
A NATIONAL conference, hailed as Iraq’s first experiment in democracy for decades, got off to a rocky start today when more than 100 delegates walked out to protest against fighting in the holy city of Najaf.
Dozens of people leapt out of their seats as soon as UN special envoy to Iraq Ashraf Jehangir Qazi finished his opening speech. “As long as there are air strikes and shelling we can’t have a conference,” some shouted.
Yahya Mussawi, from a Shiite Muslim political grouping that helped defuse a spring uprising by militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr, jumped on the stage before he was forced down by chief organiser Fuad Maasum.
“Part of democracy is that you listen to the Iraqi people. It is time that you heard us and we ask that military operations stop in Najaf immediately and dialogue takes place,” Mr Mussawi shouted.
“Listen to us, prime minister, listen to us,” said the protesters, as Mr Maasum announced a 30-minute break in the proceedings.
Iraqi guerillas also demonstrated their opinion of the “conference” by shelling it.
The Iraqi National Conference, intended to help shape democracy, was interrupted Sunday by protesters who demanded an end to violence in Najaf.
Minutes after the disruption, a series of mortar rounds landed less than a mile from the conference site in Baghdad’s Green Zone. Two people were killed and 17 others wounded, according to Iraq’s Interior Ministry.
The attack took place despite a daytime curfew for central Baghdad designed to head off violence during the conference.
A Dutch soldier was shot dead and five others injured seriously in a shooting incident in Iraq on Saturday, the Dutch defence ministry said in a statement.
According to reports reaching here, the 29-year-old military policeman, who was among some 1,200 Dutch troops stationed near the southern town of Samawa, was killed when an attack took place on a military vehicle near the town of Ar Rumaythah, north of Samawa, the statement said.
Shortly after the attack, US military, including a Black Hawk helicopter, came to help with the medical evacuation.
And, a Ukrainian soldier was killed Sunday in a land mine explosion southeast of Baghdad, a spokesman for the multinational forces said. The blast occurred in the area of Suwayrah, 25 miles south of Baghdad, in the Ukrainian troops’ area of responsibility.
Update: One US soldier was killed early Sunday when a roadside bomb exploded in northern Baghdad, the US military said in a statement.
Update:
“A major assault by forces will be launched quickly to bring the Najaf fight to an end,” Interior Ministry spokesman Sabah Kadhim said.
“This matter has to be brought to conclusion as fast as possible and we want to bring the situation to normalcy soon.”
Police ordered Iraqi and foreign journalists out of Najaf.
“From now on this city is closed,” a senior police officer told reporters.Police chief General Ghaleb al-Jazairi said he was under orders from the Interior Minister that all journalists, local and foreign, leave within hours.
Mohammad Kazem, an Iraqi correspondent for Iranian television, was detained at gunpoint by police in the middle of a live broadcast from a rooftop.
I’m sure the journalists are being ordered out of Najaf out of concern for their safety.